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The Hidden Legacy
Who is the mysterious Madame Lightfoot from Frederick’s past?
On the death of her guardian, Frederick, Meredith Sanders inherits his art gallery in Ludgate Hill. This brings her closer to Blackfriars and Newgate Prison, the two places she most fears. Her ambition of becoming a renowned artist draws her into Frederick’s criminal legacy and danger.
At first, businessman Adam Fox suspects Meredith of being involved in an art fraud relating to a missing Turner painting. Despite her fear of betrayal, she asks him for help as he is the only man she can trust.
If the painting is not returned to the Royal Academy before the Summer Exhibition,
Adam may not be able to save her from the gallows.
And whatever her feelings for Adam, Meredith will not reveal the secrets of her own past …
On the death of her guardian, Frederick, Meredith Sanders inherits his art gallery in Ludgate Hill. This brings her closer to Blackfriars and Newgate Prison, the two places she most fears. Her ambition of becoming a renowned artist draws her into Frederick’s criminal legacy and danger.
At first, businessman Adam Fox suspects Meredith of being involved in an art fraud relating to a missing Turner painting. Despite her fear of betrayal, she asks him for help as he is the only man she can trust.
If the painting is not returned to the Royal Academy before the Summer Exhibition,
Adam may not be able to save her from the gallows.
And whatever her feelings for Adam, Meredith will not reveal the secrets of her own past …
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2016
7 people want to read
About the author
Julie Roberts
6 booksJulie’s writing life began when she was fifteen years old. She was never happier than thinking up stories of adventures in wild jungles, ancient castles and Cornish smugglers’ coves. Capturing foreign spies and out-witting aliens from space. However, she had a second passion – she became an accountant. But writing was never forgotten, for she is an avid reader of all genres. She now continues this through her historical Georgian/Regency novels.
She is a sought-after speaker; is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. At their Golden Anniversary Conference year she was thrilled to achieve third place in the Elizabeth Goudge annual writing award. Following this she was a finalist in the Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award with her novel, The Hidden Legacy, and the winner of Reading Writers’, The Don Louth Writer of the Year Award 2016.
Continuing her success and with excellent reviews for her second novel, A Tangle of Secrets, in the Regency Marriage Laws series. The next novel, A Tainted Marriage, is due August 2020. Her latest venture is a novella, Dangerous Masquerade, released 2 July by her publisher Accent Press.
Julie has also drawn together her vast collection of short stories – The Kaleidoscope Series – a mixture of genres, lengths and emotions.
She loves the outdoor lifestyle. When the children flew the nest, her adventurous husband bought a BMW 1000cc motorcycle and they exchanged family caravanning for a two wheeled magic carpet that has taken them to the far corners of the United Kingdom and Europe.
She is a sought-after speaker; is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. At their Golden Anniversary Conference year she was thrilled to achieve third place in the Elizabeth Goudge annual writing award. Following this she was a finalist in the Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award with her novel, The Hidden Legacy, and the winner of Reading Writers’, The Don Louth Writer of the Year Award 2016.
Continuing her success and with excellent reviews for her second novel, A Tangle of Secrets, in the Regency Marriage Laws series. The next novel, A Tainted Marriage, is due August 2020. Her latest venture is a novella, Dangerous Masquerade, released 2 July by her publisher Accent Press.
Julie has also drawn together her vast collection of short stories – The Kaleidoscope Series – a mixture of genres, lengths and emotions.
She loves the outdoor lifestyle. When the children flew the nest, her adventurous husband bought a BMW 1000cc motorcycle and they exchanged family caravanning for a two wheeled magic carpet that has taken them to the far corners of the United Kingdom and Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 27, 2017
An enjoyable read. The plot does not stand still and has substance. It is slightly different in that it deals with ordinary citizens instead of the usual lord and lady scenario.
I would however have liked the author to expand on the outcome for the antagonist Roseanna Lightfoot. The last we hear that she has dressed as a man and disappeared. Maybe this is deliberate and to be addressed in another novel. Apart from that the novel was nicely rounded out in all other aspects. I did feel that it dragged its feet a little in the end, otherwise it would have been five stars.
I would however have liked the author to expand on the outcome for the antagonist Roseanna Lightfoot. The last we hear that she has dressed as a man and disappeared. Maybe this is deliberate and to be addressed in another novel. Apart from that the novel was nicely rounded out in all other aspects. I did feel that it dragged its feet a little in the end, otherwise it would have been five stars.
August 12, 2016
I'll start by saying that this isn't the "normal" book that I read; I generally go for something with magic, swords, dragons etc. so picking this was outside my reading comfort zone. I'm glad that I did. Julie's writing style is excellent making the flow easy and enjoyable to read.
The premise of the book is an inheritance is received and the person who died, unbeknown to the protagonist, Meredith, was in possession of a famous piece of art that he shouldn't have been and now someone wants it back.
Julie sets the tone of the period with great description; the dress, the sounds and smells and the attitudes of the time. One of the main themes of the novel is a woman attempting to 'make it in a man's world' and the Meredith's own internal struggle with breaking out of that mindset.
Meredith is plunged into the underworld of London trying to find the truth behind her benefactors past with the help of a man that she barely knows. This man, Adam Fox, is a respected bachelor of society and is beautifully written with the conflicting prejudices of the time coupled with his suspicion of Meredith's involvement in the stolen art work. Meredith's search doesn't just dig up her foster fathers past but her own too, which Julie has crafted into the story perfectly.
Of course I cannot forget the antagonist, Madame Lightfoot. A nicely rounded shady, deceptive and cruel piece of work adds a very gritty side to the story and is a crucial part of driving it forward.
I've already recommended this book to a couple of people, and know that anyone who has a liking for stories set in the 1800's would very much enjoy this.
The premise of the book is an inheritance is received and the person who died, unbeknown to the protagonist, Meredith, was in possession of a famous piece of art that he shouldn't have been and now someone wants it back.
Julie sets the tone of the period with great description; the dress, the sounds and smells and the attitudes of the time. One of the main themes of the novel is a woman attempting to 'make it in a man's world' and the Meredith's own internal struggle with breaking out of that mindset.
Meredith is plunged into the underworld of London trying to find the truth behind her benefactors past with the help of a man that she barely knows. This man, Adam Fox, is a respected bachelor of society and is beautifully written with the conflicting prejudices of the time coupled with his suspicion of Meredith's involvement in the stolen art work. Meredith's search doesn't just dig up her foster fathers past but her own too, which Julie has crafted into the story perfectly.
Of course I cannot forget the antagonist, Madame Lightfoot. A nicely rounded shady, deceptive and cruel piece of work adds a very gritty side to the story and is a crucial part of driving it forward.
I've already recommended this book to a couple of people, and know that anyone who has a liking for stories set in the 1800's would very much enjoy this.
September 11, 2016
'This is a rollercoaster of a novel full of adventure, passion and the righting of wrongs. At the centre of it is Meredith Sanders, a woman before her time, and Adam Fox, a complicated yet compassionate hero. Julie Roberts' attention to detail is second-to-none and she brings the time about which she is writing vividly to life.'
Did Not Finish
March 8, 2019Did not finish. An interesting storyline but the formatting in my electronic copy was confusing, and then came the graphic scenes, and I signed off. Not for me.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews